Day 1: Hanoi Arrival (-/-/-)

Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, meet our guide and driver who then escort you to the city center. After making sure of your successful hotel check-in (check in time: 14.00), they will be pleased to leave you free time for your own lunch and leisure to recover after the long flight. Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals Included: None
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Day 2: Hanoi- Highlights of the city (B/-/-)

Breakfast is served at your hotel.

8.30AM, meet our tour guide at your hotel lobby.

Today, we will visit Ho Chi Minh Complex and One Pilar pagoda. After that we will visit the Temple of Literature that was originally built as a temple to Confucius, this is the site of Vietnam’s first University dating back to 1070. The temple highlights the importance that Vietnamese society place then and now on education. Have lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, we continue our trip to visit Museum of Ethnology (Hoa Lo Prison if you visiting on Monday): This museum is widely acknowledged as the best in the country and has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic minority peoples. As well as the comprehensive array of exhibits inside, there are also traditional tribal houses reconstructed within the ground.

Then, we back to the center of Hanoi to visit Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake: The Ngoc Son temple is set on a tiny island on the Hoan Kiem Lake, its history dating back to the 13th century. The temple is reached by crossing the The Huc Bridge which literally means the ‘Place Touched by Morning Sunbeams’. The Hoan Kiem Lake is the local point of the city and the source of many legends. 45 minute Cyclo Tour through the Old Quarter: Also known as the 36 streets, this bustling area of narrow streets is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. Originally each of the 36s names’ was related to the products being sold there. It’s a great place to explore on foot with numerous photo opportunities. Before coming back to your hotel, we will watch a water puppet show. Dinner is on your own arrangement. Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Day 3: Hanoi- Thai Nguyen- Ba Be (B/L/D)

Breakfast is served at your hotel.

After breakfast, check out hotel and meet our tour guide at your hotel lobby at around 8.00AM.

From your hotel in Hanoi or the airport, departure for Ba Be national park via Thai Nguyen, province of tea plantation. Stop en-route for shooting nice pictures. After that, keep going to Ba Be lake via Bac Kan province.

Stop in Cho Ra for lunch before heading to Ba Be lake.

Enjoy a 2 hour boat trip on Ba Be lake. The motorized boat will take you along the Nang river to get to Puong cave - a large cave with 30m high, 300m long, is an interesting place in Ba Be National Park. Then heading to Pac Ngoi village where you will spend a night at a homestay of Tay ethnic group (Tay people is one of the 54 Vietnamese group who still keep living very traditional style).

This evening, you enjoy a delicious home-cooked dinner, prepared by the host and learn the food culture of Tay people.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay in Ba Be

Day 4: Ba Be- Nguom Ngao- Ban Gioc waterfall- Cao Bang (B/L/D)

Wake up early to visit the local market to see how the local people living.

After the breakfast, drive to Ban Gioc waterfall. On this day you’ll take a scenic insightful day trip in the north of Cao Bang to the beautiful Ban Gioc waterfall on the Chinese border. This picturesque, cascading waterfall is 53 meters high and has an impressive span of 300 meters. The drive offers unique landscapes, limestone karts formations soar from the verdant rice paddies of the surrounding farms of local ethnic minorities. Along the way, you’ll see Tay, Hmong and Dzao ethnic minority groups. Heading back to Cao Bang, stop to explore the expansive 2, 144 meter Nguom Ngao Cave and its brilliant stalactites. Also, stop at Pac Rằng village to learn more about the daily life of Nung people. Return to Cao Bang.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Cao Bang

Day 5: Cao Bang- Meo Vac- Dong Van (B/L/D)

In the morning, head to Ha Giang. The scenery is spectacular and the road runs along the sides of the mountains. Stop en-route to take pictures of Ma Pi Leng pass, the most spectacular pass of the Northeast Vietnam.

Upon arrival Dong Van town, walk around the town and ancient village before check-in at your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Dong Van

Day 6: Dong Van- Yen Minh- Ha Giang (B/L/D)

Today drive from Dong Van to Ha Giang city via Yen Minh & Quan Ba. The scenery is spectacular – a vast limestone mountain range and perpendicular walls of rock. You’ll call in at the infamous Vuong Palace, once the home of a high-ranking H’mong family during French colonial rule. Stop at Quan Ba twin mountain and heaven gate. Take pictures of Vietnam’s outstanding landscape.

Arrive at Ha Giang in the late afternoon and check-in at a homestay near Ha Giang. Dinner is served by the host.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay in Ha Giang

Day 7: Ha Giang- Drive back to Hanoi (B/L/-)

Hike around the local village to enjoy the fresh atmosphere of the morning and rice fields. Continue to Thon Tha village. Only a total of 90 homes make up the whole neighborhood, traditional stilt houses made from wood and bamboo and with a palm-thatched roof.

Lunch served at a local family with simple but healthy and delicious food.

Leave Ha Giang in the afternoon to Hanoi.

Arriving in Hanoi, check-in and free at leisure. Dinner is on your own cost. Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Day 8: Hanoi – Drive to Halong Bay (B/L/D)

After breakfast, meet our driver at your hotel lobby and we depart for Halong Bay. Sit back and enjoy the peaceful countryside symbolic of the Red River Delta. We will arrive at Halong Bay’s wharf around noon and embark an elegant wooden junk for a cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Halong Bay. Here we enjoy the striking scenery of this World Heritage Site. While being on board, we will be served fresh local seafood lunch followed by swimming and exploring some of the limestone caves in this area. Witness one of the world’s best the sunsets before you sit down for a lush dinner. The captain then will anchor for the night nearby a remote island where you’ll have the option night fishing or just sit out on the deck and relax under the stars.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight on cruise     

Day 9: Halong Bay - Hanoi - Flight to Quang Binh (Br/-/-)

After waking up surrounded by the tranquil beauty of the bay, we have time for an early morning dip. Then it’s time for breakfast whilst you watch the sun rise over Ha Long bay. The cruise continues to move around the bay for in order for us to discover more secluded areas; we then go kayaking and continue swimming around the bay. The boat will be near us at all times for those who prefer to relax on board. Around midday, we will return to the main harbour before transferring to our awaiting vehicle for the three-hour journey to Noi Bai airport for the flight to to Dong Hoi (Quang Binh province)

Upon arrival in Dong Hoi, meet our tour guide and we transfer to your hotel for check in and relax. Overnight in Quang Binh.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch or Brunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Quang Binh

Day 10: Paradise cave- Phong Nha cave tour (B/-/-)

Breakfast is served at your hotel.

8.30AM, meet our tour guide at your hotel lobby and we transfer to Paradise cave. Paradise cave was discovered by scientists of the British Caving Research Association in 2005, has the length of 31km, the longest dry cave in Asia.

You will be taken by the electrical car from the parking to the foothills of the cave (2km). You will go in the jungle, see many kinds of trees and hear the sound of animals. Explore the cave about 1km on the wood floor and see lot of stalactites with different shapes.

With naturally primitive features Paradise Cave looks like a landscape painting, making it very attractive to visitors. There are a series of white crystal stalactites resembling glass pillars and many other spectacular formations.

Lunch is on your own cost (our tour guide can suggest you a restaurant).

After lunch, we visit Phong Nha Cave is considered "First Cave wonders"

Take a boat about 5km along the Son River to Phong Nha Cave (river cave).

On Son river, you will see pictures of the girls, the children have fun on the waterfront and have the opportunity to experience the daily life of the neighborhood riverside village bearing the Vietnamese country soul.

Conquering the Phong Nha Cave: The longest wet cave, enjoy the scenery spectacular limestone, underground river system and unique stalactite in the world. Caving Fairy & Imperial admire the beautiful stalactites blocks are created by nature over thousands of millennia.

After that, we transfer back to your hotel for relax. Overnight in Quang Binh.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Quang Binh

Day 11: Quang Binh- Vinh Moc tunnel- Hue (B/-/-)

Breakfast is served at your hotel.

8.30AM, check out hotel and meet our tour guide at your hotel lobby and we transfer to Hue.

On the way, we stop to visit Vinh Moc tunnels- an underground refuge of the fishing village of Vinh Moc, located above the DMZ. In early 1965, America began a massive bombing campaign against North Vietnam with code name "Rolling Thunder". The area above the DMZ became the most heavily bombed single piece of land on earth. Unable to live on the ground, the local inhabitants had to dig and move their homes into the ground. Vinh Moc tunnels is the best example of the tunnels system in the DMZ area. We visit the museum then walk underground, starting with an entrance on top of the clay cliff and finishing with an exit overlooking a wild beach.

Arrive in Hue, check in hotel and relax. Overnight in Hue.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Day 12: Hue- Imperial city tour (B/L/-)

Breakfast is served at your hotel.

After breakfast at hotel, we set out for the exploration of Hue's famous highlights, starting with a boat trip on Perfume River to reach the picturesque Thien Mu otherwise known as Heavenly Lady Pagoda. One of the most poignant displays here is the car belonging to a former monk, who in 1963, drove to Saigon and set himself alight to protest against the South Vietnamese regime and its treatment of Buddhists. We then disembark the boat for a visit the elaborate tomb of former emperor Tu Duc, which was built between 1864 and 1867 by 3000 soldiers and workers. It includes fifty monuments surrounded by a 1500m long wall covering. We then head back to Hue for your lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we visit Hue Imperial City, the last royal city of Vietnam with various beautiful structures including the Flag Tower, Ngo Mon Gate, Nine Dynastic Urns, Nine Holy Cannons, Thai Hoa Palace and the Forbidden City or Tu Cam Thanh. Built in the 19th century by the Nguyen dynasty, the City was home to the former Emperors of Vietnam from 1802 until 1945. We then do the walking and shopping in Dong Ba Market to enjoy the specialty of Hue city. Overnight at hotel in Hue.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Day 13: Hue- Hai Van Pass- Hoian ancient town (B/-/-)

After breakfast at hotel, we bid Hue farewell and continue our south bound journey to the old trading town of Hoian via Danang. Along the way, we will stop at Lang Co beach for refreshments. From here we head up to the Hai Van pass, stopping at the top to take in the stunning views north over Lang Co beach and south over Danang city.

Upon arrival Hoian, we take a walking tour to Hoi An Ancient Town – an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. We start our day with the Japanese Covered Bridge – one of Vietnam’s most iconic attractions. Created by the Japanese living in Hoian in the 1590s as a way to reach the Chinese quarter across the water, the bridge is a beautiful historical piece of Japanese architecture. It would be a shortcoming without a visit to Tan Ky House - one of the many ancient houses that making up Hoian Ancient Town. Built two centuries ago with both Japanese and Chinese influences on architecture, this house has been preserved through seven generations. While walking, we will encounter pretty houses of Chinese merchants. Another must-see destination is Phuc Kiem Assembly Hall - an excellent work of architecture considered as a heritage of historical significance. Built in 1690, this Assembly Hall is in fact a temple dedicated to the sea goddess Thien Hau. Back to your hotel late afternoon. Overnight in Hoian.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian

Day 14: Hoian- Experience Countryside tour (B/L/-)

After breakfast, you will be  picked up at your hotel's lobby  around 8 AM by bike, then  escape the bustling city just about 20 minutes by cycling from Hoi An old quarter, you will enjoy a vegetable farming area with nice weather and lovely people, a green area called Tra Que vegetable village.

Upon arrival , you’ll take a stroll around the vegetable farm and then join the farmers in preparing the land and fertilizing it with seaweed from the river near by - as organic fertilizers. You’ll learn how to  raking the ground, sowing seed, watering, and planting vegetables, as well as many other gardening activities will make you have lots of fun and interesting moments when being in this village. This is a great way to see how locals here live and how they love their job.

After working in the vegetable farm we continue biking to Fishing village (it takes 20 minutes of biking)

When we arrive at Fishing Village, Meet a local fishing family, Learn about daily life of Vietnamese fishermen, their custom and community

Leaving the village behind, you will board our boat and cruise to the mouth of the river where it meets the Cua Dai Sea. Then meeting and engage with local fishermen and enjoy a hands-on experience of traditional net fishing. The local fisherman will show you the method of catching fish that is to throw a round net into the river from a small boat. After being taught how it is done it will be your turn.

The next part of our adventure is to fish by using a huge square net that is set on the river bed which is then winch up. With helps of another couple of local fisherman you will collect the fish inside that net through a hole at the bottom.

Following, you will learn to paddle the unique Vietnamese bamboo basket round boat through small and beautiful channel and join in a basket boat race. Then  head into the nipa palm forest where tourist have opportunities to catch small crabs by fishing rod for fun as well as some products from this tree was make by our staff for souvenir.

Then continue biking to my house in rice village (it takes 10 minutes of biking). Reach a local house, be welcome with a glass of passion fruit juice and wet tissues.

You will join a short rice pancake cooking class with my wife from rice flour - Last  step is : Enjoy the Lunch  with some specialties of our village : Tam Huu (three friends ), Deep Fried Spring Rolls(vegetarian style), Local rice pancake serve with fresh organic vegetable and fish sauce, Steamed rice, chicken' meat, shrimp, pork, Season fruits.

The whole tour will be finished around 2 -2:30 P.M. The rest of time you are free at leisure. Overnight in Hoian.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian

Day 15: Hoi An - Danang - Flight To Ho Chi Minh (B/-/-)

Breakfast is served at your hotel.

Today, you are free at leisure until being picked up and transferred to airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh city.

Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh, meet our driver and we transfer to hotel. Check in and relax (We can arrange Saigon jeep tour by night or scooter evening tour… on your request). Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh

Day 16: Ho Chi Minh- Sightseeing tour (B/-/-)

Breakfast is served at your hotel.

8:00 AM: meet our tour guide at your hotel lobby and we visit highlights of Ho Chi Minh city.

Start your tour with The Reunification Palace, used to be residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam. In 30 April 1975, the when North Vietnam soldier set foot inside this building with red flag on hand, the whole world knew that Vietnam war was end.

Next stop is War Remnants Museum, on the way stop to visit Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office, 2 most famous and oldest of classical French colonial architecture construction was built more than 100 years ago. War Remnants Museum with many photographs from both Vietnam and US sources; US military vehicle like tanks, jet, booms display outside.

Lunch is on your own cost.

Afternoon, we continue city tour by discover eastern side of the city. Giac Lam Pagoda, the oldest one in Ho Chi Minh City with huge Buddha statue system which was built on 1774. Then ride to Cho Lon (Big Market) and Thien Hau Pagoda which located inside China Town, it’s a place of great historical and cultural importance many of temples, pagodas in surrounding area. Before the tour ends, stop over for shopping at Ben Thanh Market in city center. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh

Day 17: Ho Chi Minh- Drive to Mui Ne beach (B/-/-)

Breakfast is served at your hotel.

9.00AM, check out hotel and meet our driver to depart to Mui Ne beach. It takes about 5 hours driving from Ho Chi Minh to Mui Ne. On the half way, we can stop for your short refresh.

Upon arrival in Mui Ne, you will check in and relax. Overnight in Mui Ne.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Resort in Mui Ne

Day 18: Mui Ne- Free on beach (B/-/-)

Breakfast is served at your hotel.

Today you are free at leisure on your own. Mui Ne is very famous with watersports such as kitesurfing, windsurfing…Overnight in Mui Ne.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Resort in Mui Ne

Day 19: Mui Ne- Free on beach (B/-/-)

Breakfast is served at your hotel.

Today you are free at leisure on your own. Mui Ne is very famous with watersports such as kitesurfing, windsurfing…Overnight in Mui Ne.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Resort in Mui Ne

Day 20: Mui Ne- Drive back to Ho Chi Minh- Departure (B/-/-)

Breakfast is served at your hotel.

Today, you are free at leisure until being picked up and transferred (by our driver with private vehicle) to Ho Chi Minh airport (~5 driving hours) for your flight to your country. End of services. We thank you for choosing Tonkin Voyage Travel!

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: None (Check out time is before 12.00PM)